My Year in Munich

Beginning of April

2010-04-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

My "2 month break" is wrapping down, but looking back on it I can say it was amazing. Just last week I got back from Spain, where my Mom and I had a great time. We rented a car and first went to Salamanca, where I had previously studied in High School. It was awesome to be back, show my Mom my old hang out places, and meet up with my host family. After spending some time in Salamanca, we went down to Sevilla for the processions. Processions are huge religious parades where the members of these so called "secret societies" cover their faces and march with large floats of Jesus. Here is a picture: http://www.npjcruzacuestas.org/img/fotografia/procesiones1_grande.jpg (taken from the internet, not mine). It was at first amazing to see SO many people and SO much passion for what they believed in. The amazement died down for us after hours of moving through crowds. People were more packed into that city than anything I've ever seen. Absolutely unbelievable. We then head up to Cordoba, where we saw the "Mezquita de Cordoba". The mosque was built when the Muslims had control of southern Spain and was then reformed into what is now a Catholic Church. Spain's history and culture are amazing. The preservation of the old buildings has left Spain, in my opinion, as the country that most takes you back in time. I think everyone has to visit Spain at least once before they die.

After spending my summer there in High School and after this last trip, I can say that I love Spain. While there, I was thinking about the contrasts between Spain and Germany, and boy there are a ton...

1. German's are extremely punctual, practical, and driven. If there is a task to be done, it will be done ASAP. Of course there are lazy people here, but the general German attitude is one of intensity for getting things done. Spaniards have a lot more "chill" way of life. Spaniards tend to put everything for "manana" and sit back, enjoy their nice weather, and sit and laugh. Of course, too, there are plenty of hard working Spaniards.

2. People are for sure friendlier and appear much happier in Spain. In Bavaria, the people are known for being open and friendly, but generally speaking, I consider people from Spain a lot more amiable. One could say that maybe Spaniards are more superficial, but the openess and happy people is an aspect of Spain that I really like.

3. In Spain, we felt like we were getting ripped off a lot. I should rephrase that, we DID get ripped off a lot. I was very critical in making sure I checked all of the prices, and at LEAST 1nce a day we would be charged more than we should have been. I would have to go up and talk to the guy in Spanish and he would apologize for his "mistake". I'm sure that happens sometimes in Germany, but I feel that the people (especially in Munich) are extremely honest. I have had friends lose their wallets and they got them back; I've had friends undercharged for food or drinks and they always go back up and pay the extra money; and I am amazed that the Munich metro is all on an honors system.

All in all, the mix of both cultures have been really good for me. I see the two as a clash of smiling and laughing Spaniards who works little as more serious looking Germans who are very honest and hard working. Each have their own goods and bads.

Well, hope you've enjoyed this blog for today. Bis spaeter!

Beginning of good weather, end of exams

2010-02-23T07:07:00.001-08:00

One more exams and I'll be done with first semester! The good news is that so far, exams have gone surprisingly well. I think I have passed all of them but we'll have to see...Tomorrow I have my last Klausur (German for "final) and it's an oral exam about physical geography. It's so weird how it's been learning physical geography in German. At the beginning I would have to translate the word from German-->English, then look up in the dictionary what is meant in English! After a semester of hard work, I am confident about my exam.

I was taking a look at my earlier posts, and saw that I said "I understand my teachers about 60%". It is such a good feeling looking back at that, becuase I know understand everything besides technical words or idiomatic phrases--in other words, about 90%. Learning a language is a sort of unconscious process, in which you don't realize how much your language skills progress. I am hoping that second semester brings me even further towards being fluent.

After tomorrow, I'll have two months of traveling and relaxing. I am still working at Siemens, but it will only be a couple days so I am able to travel. So far the plans are Serbia, Spain, and Holland where I will be staying with friends who I met in Munich. That's an awesome part about studying abroad--meeting international kids who can show you first hand their countries when you visit them. I, of course, have opened my doors to whoever passes through Virginia. I have to say that i'm really excited about going to Serbia. Besides Mexico or Canada, it will be the first country I will have had gone to out of the EU. I'm going to make it a priority to read up on it before I go.

Other than my trips, I'm looking forward to enjoying the nice weather that is coming. Wandern (hiking) trips, hanging out in the English Garden, and biking through the city are going to fill my agenda for the next two months..I can't wait.

One again, if your reading this and have any questions please feel free to send me an e-mail: thomas9@vt.edu. I'd be able to answer most of your questions in terms of studying in Germany or Munich.

Bis die Tage,
Tommy

Impressions of Siemens

2010-02-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

Exams just began and I am currently writing in the middle of my studying hiatus. Last week I started my internship at Siemens, which so far has been going great (office German has however been somewhat tough). It couldn't be a better situation: great people, flexible working days (just 2ce a week), and some extra pocket change for traveling this summer. The internship will fill my two month "holiday" break and roll over a little into my second semester. Directly after it's over it should be warm here again which means biking, swimming in the English Garden, beer gardens, and live music.

My job has different tasks, all of which are in German. They really are nothing special and may bore you, but I will share a little about my impressions of the German working world.
--When you walk into an office or see a co-worker, it's not normal to ask how they are doing. How are you doing in German isn't superficial as it is in English and often expects a long/thought over answer.
--As for my division of Siemens, you put in your daily hours, you work hard, and you go home. In the States, we follow more or less a fixed schedule, where as I as well as my co-workers can come in from 6-9 and leave anytime before 8 PM as long as they fill their hours.
--VERY straightforward-->Even the nicest people who I work with will tell me bluntly what I need to do right and what I should not do. Their e-mails are polite, but get right to the point. Some told me that when they were learning English, it was very hard during the writing a letter chapter because their teacher told them that in English we add "softener" sentences-->exp: "I hope your weekend was nice", "I hope you've been good"--in Germany you may have that sometimes but very rarely in the workplace

As for my exams: Tuesday, Friday, the next Tuesday and the next following Wed. will be all about Language, Physical Geography, Anthropology, and Management..

Late Posting

2010-01-17T05:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not posted anything in a long time. I really need to start getting in a regular habit of blogging.

December came and flew by. December in Munich means the beggining of short and cold days, and the smell of tests and work coming up in January and Feb. December also means Christmas markets, Glühwein, and Gemütlichkeit. First let me explain what Glühwein and Gemütlichkeit are. Glühwein is hot wine that can be bought from little stands at the many different Christmas markets in Munich. It is sweet and really warms you up from the cold. Many locals go to get Glühwein to stand outside and talk about their lives. Gemütlichkeit doesnt have a translation in English. It carries a meaning that is similar to coziness by being with people you know well and dont have to impress, telling stories and laughing--a happy and warm way of life. Gemütlichkeit is a big part of Bavarian lifestyle.

Also in December I was fortunate enough to be able to go back to the States. It was great to see my family and friends, hear my own accent and speak my own langauge, and have time to just relax. With that said, I am very happy to be back in Germany because there are too many goals that I have not fulfilled that I am looking forward to doing.

After my exams in February, I start with an internship at Siemens. Becuase Siemens is one of the largest companies in Germany, and located in Munich, it makes since that I work for them above anyone else (well, BMW may have also been a good choice..) I am looking forward to starting with them, although I have no clue what I will be doing.

I better go and get working on my Referat. A Referat is somewhat like a presentation on a topic that is going to be taught in the class, and is somewhat like an introduction to the subject. Two other Germans and I are giving the Referat on Tuesday on Leerstandmanagement--an esoteric topic on Vacancy Management. I am really nervous for it, as the whole thing is in German, but after this week I will feel good about having everything out of the way.

Liebe Grüße,
Tommy

Classlife at LMU

2009-11-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

As for all of my classes, I'm really enjoying them. They are all tough to understand, but I'm making my way through it. My one "Ubung", there is 25 other kids and I and we are forced to talk about what we have learned in lecture. I find it my hardest class because I'm constantly forced to discuss the things that I didn't understand well! Fortunately, the teacher is very understanding as are the other kids in class. They all are supportive and help me with homework and translating things.

This past Saturday I took "the free tour" of Munich which I found really good. For 2 months I have been walking around the city with limited knowledge of the history, and now that I know more about it, I will feel more connected and aware as I pass by certain places. While walking through the city, I noted how much Christmas stuff was starting to go up. I can already tell that the holiday season will be very traditional.

By the way, if your reading any of this and would like some questions answered, feel free to email me

Berlin

2009-10-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

My friend and I decided last week that we wanted to meet my brother (who studies right across the bride from Copenhagen in Sweden) in Berlin. The train tickets in Germany are not bad when you buy them a month or too in advanced, but are ridiculously high when you last minute plan. Airfare in Europe is random and rather weird too--sometimes you can fly with a cheap airline for 10-30 Euro round trip and sometimes the same ticket will cost you 100-150 Euro. I finally found the solution to cheap, last minute travel in Germany. A website called Mitfahrgelegenheit.de allows you to search "rides" from your city to your final destination. The ride giver puts the amount he wants, the time he leaves, and his phone number to set up a meeting point. The website allowed us to go round trip to Berlin for about 50E, which beats the heck out of the 200 Euro train price we would have paid! If you do use the website, make sure you make an account so you can check out the person's profile who you ride with. I would also recommend you talk to him or her on the phone and find out more about the person to be safe.

Berlin was a great time. I was able to meet up with my fellow Hokies who are studying at our Swiss Campus in Riva San Vitale which was comforting to be with Americans again. We saw a lot, met cool people, and I was able to joke again in my mother language. I'd say that one of the hardest things about learning a language is not being able to joke. Jokes normally come quickly and out of the blue, and if your constantly trying to think before you talk, you rarely think of jokes. Something that surprised me about Berlin was how cheap it is. Granted, I study in the most expensive cities in Germany, but EVERYTHING, even in the tourist areas, was inexpensive. I was definitely happy to come back to Munich though. I love to travel and have had some good trips to Prague, Salzburg, and Berlin, but every time I get back to Munich I always am happy to be back. The city is too clean, too efficient, and too "gemütlich" to not be happy to come back.

So, some tips if you study here: check out mitfahrgelegenheit.de

Life at LMU

2009-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

For the last week, I have been trying to get my head around how things work here at LMU and Germany for that. I'll start off listing some of the differences and my thoughts on them:
1. You don't register for most classes. You just go. I love the idea of this, but there is just some security to having your name on the class register that ensures you that you are actually going to get credits. For the classes you do register for, you must sign up only a week in advanced and can e-mail the professor if you forget the date.
2. All the courses are in German. I would say that I now understand about 60% of everything my teachers say, and am confident that in a month, I'll understand almost all of it. Lack of confidence and laziness is the only reason why people don't succeed in learning a language. On this trip, I've met people who tried one language and failed miserably, but are doing great with German. If your one of those people who had trouble with one language and think that your "mind" is not like that, try another language and you'll be surprised.
3. The school is about 65% girls. A big change from Tech's 40%

I'm sorry I've been so short on this..I've got a lot to do now, but when I get back to blogging i'll tell you about Berlin and my weekend

Transition

2009-10-09T11:19:00.001-07:00

Oktoberfest is over and the city is back to normal--finally! I know it is probably cliche of everyone who studies abroad to "love their city", but there's no exaggeration when I say that I love it here. It's been a week or two since I have updated this blog, so excuse my scattered brain thoughts!

Going out with people from different nationalities is awkward, fun, and very enlightening all at the same time. Like I've mentioned before, we are all in the same boat being international students so it's really easy to just go up to someone and ask to get something to eat or go, kind of like you asked anyway on the playground to play with you in 1st grade. So, with that said, anyone reading this who studies abroad: Don't be afraid to break out of your shell and be really open as you might not be in the States. Also, do NOT expect to be funny in German at all and expect to lower your standards of jokes to a level you never thought possible.

If you study in Munich, join the gym McFit. It's so cheap (16 E) monthly and there are 5 in the city. Also, if you live in Studentenstadt, you can shop at Aldi or Edeka on the stop Alte Heide just 1 metro stop away.

Never talk American politics. Seriously.

Overall my experience is going really great. The more I look around and open my eyes, I see that big risks pay of with big rewards. I think that doing a fully immersion program without knowing anyone has given me a lot of self confidence and has really given me a chance to discover things on my own. I look forward to keeping you guys posted on my next week! There will be some good things in store..

Oktoberfest/Last week of language course

2009-09-23T13:38:00.001-07:00

The first day of Oktoberfest was great! I could not believe how traditional Bavarians are...nearly everyone at the Oktoberfest wore Lederhosen and Drindls and EVERYONE knew the lyrics to all of the Bavarian songs in the tents. Oktoberfest is confused with what we like to think of as just beer halls with 1-liter beers. Of course beer is a big part of it, but it's more of a time where Bavarian people can meet, celebrate their own culture (much different than German at that...they have their own language!), eat well, and enjoy life. There are roller coasters, ferris wheels, swings, and many games for kids and adults alike. The music and the laid back atmosphere makes Oktoberfest a fun day for everyone.

A quick story--I was in one of the "tents" with my Swiss friend looking for a table and finally found one with a group of Americans studying abroad. They seemed nice so we sat down and started talking. My Swiss friend told them he was from Switzerland, and they all thought it was really cool. Because he and I both speak Spanish/German together, the girls thought it was amazing that he was "so talented" and asked him how many languages he spoke. He told them French was his mother tongue and they all asked "Why don't you speak Swedish?" He laughed and thought they were joking but they said "we're serious...". He proceeded to tell a group of 6 other Americans, 2 who study in COPENHAGEN (20 minutes from Sweden) and 4 who study in Italy (Switzerland's border) that Switzerland and Sweden are different countries. It seems like such a trivial thing to write about on this blog, but I think it shines light on a bigger idea that Americans should be more aware of world geography/lifestyles/current events. I understand that some people never want to leave America, but being a global citizen, and especially if you decide to study in Europe, you should be aware of simple things like this. Hopefully I can break the stereotypes of the "dumb American"...but I can't do it alone, and they sure didn't help...

On a last note, the language class is coming to an end. It was a great few weeks learning hundreds of words and getting to know other people who will also study here. After this Saturday, I will have 3 weeks free...no plans, no responsibility, no work. It's great to have this flexibility, and I hope to use it to travel around Germany or maybe to other parts of Europe. I will be sure to blog about the adventures I go on...

Oktoberfest

2009-09-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

This week has been very productive. I've met some Germans on my hall, got a bank account, and am wrapping down my language course. The bank I went to in the city center, Deutsche Bank, blows any US bank out of the water. You walk upstairs and are greeted by a well dressed man/woman who gets you a coffee, cappuccino, soft drink and a snack. From there, you just give your passport and address to the person who helps you and in 15 minutes you''ve got an account. It was amazing how efficient the process is and how the bank is a place to "relax" before your appointment.

The city is PACKED with tourists coming from all over the world for tomorrow. What's tomorrow? The celebration of Ludwig's wedding--Oktoberfest. Many Americans are confused by the dates but it was a 2 week celebration before he got married in October. It's turned into one of the world's greatest festivals where you eat Bavarian food and beer, sing, dance, and meet people all day. We "trained" in my language class all day by learning Bavarian songs....Our homework is that we have to go and try them out. I think a group of friends and I wake up tomorrow very early to get a spot and be there for the beginning of das Oktoberfest!

Salzburg

2009-09-14T07:50:00.001-07:00

It’s been a little less than 2 weeks since I’ve been here in Germany. I’ve had a great time so far, and have already experienced so much. I’ve met people from all around the world, and have already learned so much German. My Dad and I (as I write this) are on our way to Prague, where we will spend a few nights before I go back to Munich for class, and he goes to Sweden to visit my brother and his family. We just came from Salzburg-the home of Mozart, the stage for movies such as the Sound of Music and considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It was a great time…my Dad and I explored a salt mine, took a tram to a 1000 year old castle, and got lost on the side streets of the town.

After Prague, I’ll return to Munich to continue my intensive language studies. I’ve also got to take care of other business such as my Visa, my bank account, and my class schedule. Life here is much different that the US, but I’m adjusting just fine and am having a great time.

A couple tips to people who study/visit in Munich

-You can take the Bayern Ticket anywhere in Bavaria (to Salzburg as well, even though it is in Austria) for just 28 euro. The ticket is good for up to 5 people, meaning that if you split it properly, you are just paying about 6 E to travel around Bavaria and lasts for a 24 hour period. If you arrive to the train station early (around 30 minutes) you can usually find other people who want to share the ticket because they are going to the same place (that is, if you do not have 5 people). Other ideas for the ticket: go to Regensburg (a UNESCO world heritage site), Neuschwanstein (The Cinderella Castle) or Nurnburg. The ticket has some small time restrictions, and don’t allow use of high speed trains.

-The intensive language course website can be found at “vsk-misu.de” or by googling “vsk misu munich”. It is definitely a great way to practice German, meet kids from around the world who will study here, and get used to German life. The class is offered twice a year, around a month before the semester starts.

Lifestyle Differences

2009-09-05T05:57:00.000-07:00

After being here for just 5 days, I've noticed a lot of differences in how people live. Most of them are practical things and some of them are annoying for me coming from America.
The Good:
1. Gum is sort of looked down upon as being rude to chew in public (although a few people still do it). You wouldn't believe the difference it makes on how the streets look. I was in NYC before I left for Munich, and the filth on the sidewalks is something you just don't see here.
2. You pay a little bit more for each recyclable bottle you buy (15-75 cents). There are recycle stations in grocery stores and cafeterias where you then recycle the bottles and get your money back. This is awesome because it encourages people to recycle. The homeless go searching on the streets to find the bottles, which in effect, makes the city clean.
3. If there is one elevator in a subway station with no one on it, it will most likely be stopped. The first people that wants to either go up or down steps on a platform in front of the elevator and it starts up. It saves space, energy, and is convenient to either the crowd of people going up to get on the metro, or the crowd who has gotten off to go down.
4. The metro doors only open when you want them to. In DC, the doors are automatically opened whether or not anyone wants on. You have to press a button to open the doors on the metro here because it saves energy and also does not allow the heat/AC to escape.
5. The public transportation is amazing and very efficient. There is a S-Bahn for more suburban zones, U-Bahn for inner city travel, a street tram, and bus system.
The Bad:
1. Don't expect ice in all of your drinks.
2. If you want your still (no carbonation) ask "ohne Kohlensaure"...otherwise you will probably get bubbly water.
3. Bathrooms are definitely not as common as in the States, and most of the "public" bathrooms will have someone waiting outside who cleans the bathrooms and asks for spare change.
4. The hours are awful. A combination of German laws and tradition make stores close really early.

First days in Munich

2009-09-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

It's been 2 full days since I've been in Munich. So far, I love the city and the Bavarian people. Some things about Munich make so much sense: you pay a little extra for water but you can return your bottles to recycle them and get some money back. Also, people don't really chew gum as it is rude in public--as much as I thought this "rule" was dumb at first, I appreciate it so much as I walk down the street and don't see any smashed chewed gum. My residence in Studentenstadt is what I expected--a really small room but I cannot complain--we have a bunch of little shops and about 2500 students live in the same Studentenwohnheim (residence) so there is a lot going on always. My language skills have improved a lot over the past two days...but I have definitely faced the fact that German is going to be tough to learn (I will do it though!). My intensive language class runs for 4 hours a day so I think that should help a lot. Other than that, it's been a great experience so far. I'll be sure to write more as my week unfolds.

Last day in the USA

2009-08-30T13:36:00.001-07:00

Today’s the big day. Going to the airport I was a bit nervous and excited at the same time. I naturally tried to block out the challenges ahead of me and focus of the exciting parts of the journey.

As I sat anxiously waiting for my Air Canada flight (in which I’m writing this entry right now), I noticed a very tall lady (says a lot coming from me) with her husband and two blonde kids. I saw that the kids were wearing ID badges and the small red flag with the white cross in it which indicated that they were Swiss. I figured I had nothing to lose so I broke out some of my German to the kids. I told them where I was going, what I was doing there, and found out a little bit more about their lives They ended up giving me great advice about life in Europe and assured me I would have a great time in Munich. Although the mom spoke great English, she spoke to me primarily in German. She understood that I was trying to learn and I think she felt more "comfortable" speaking her native language. It was suprising because in class we hear so much about how Swiss German is almost incomprehensible, but her Hochdeutsch (high Germany) was amazing. After speaking with them, I’m feeling better than ever about the decision I made to spend my year in Germany..

Off to Toronto, then Munich!

A few days before...

2009-08-26T18:45:00.001-07:00

In 3 days, I will board a plane, travel 8 hours across the Atlantic, and find my new temporary home in Munich for 11 months. I've made a huge commitment to go away for a year, but think that in the end, I will be happy I made the decision. I better go and finish packing-I'll be sure to keep you all updated as I leave!

A little bit about this blog: It'll be a great way for family and friends to keep connected with what is happening, as well as a good "diary" for me to write down my adventures. But I also want it to serve to help people in the future who plan to study abroad (especially in Munich/Germany). Therefore, I'll sometimes put some "tips" on the very bottom of each post. Feel free to ask me if you've got any questions regarding these "tips" or any other questions--thomas9@vt.edu

A month before

2009-07-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's about a month before leaving, and I just created this blog to share and document my year abroad. I'll be sure to post more as August 30th comes closer...

I also wanted to thank the John T. Petters Foundation as well as Phi Kappa Phi for study abroad scholarship aid. Many doors have been opened because of their financial support, and I am very grateful for that.